I'd like to hang some black bear guides

[Tenbears]

Yes Michael,  If your outfitter promices you trophy care. And you pay accordingly then you darn well should get that. However especially in the case of bear hunts. they most often offer assistance in recovering. skinning and quartering. Maybe transport to a processor.  Few offer, or promice trophy care,  I recently hunted big browns in Russia. the hunt was in excess of $10,000.00  their version of trophy care was they kept it cold until they got it to the taxidermist. Who prepaired it for export. Which was extra.  and yes, they advertised field care of my trophy.  The problem is there is no such thing as an industry standard. and I do not know as there should be. add to the mix that a great deal of bear hunting takes place in other countries. and the problem increases.
  I go on a hunt for bear to Ontario every year. They provide "care of your trophy wile you are with us" they do not provide mount preparation.  The cost is $1250.00 Good money for some. A mere pittins for others.  Believe me I do not like seeing beautiful hides go to waste because of poor care.  But exactly what is Care of your trophy. and where does the guide's responsability end?
 although you pay good money to fly, and do not expect to have to land the darn plain. I am sure you neither expect the pilot to place your luggage safely into the rental car for you. After all he is a pilot.
 And a guide is a guide. Not a taxidermist. 
  Although city slickers may get taken advantage of by misleading information. Just as many bring it upon themselves.
 That Ontario Trip I spoke of earlier. I book all the spaces the outfitter has. And fill them. When a client asks about bear hunts. I tell them about Our hunt.  The cost is $1250.00 and they will have a Taxidermist along to ensure their bear is properly taken care of. I even feed them for the cost. You have no idea how many times those very clients will show up with a bear hide that they got at good ole oak leaf lodge or someplace. The hide half fleshed, and dipped in sea watter to salt preserve it. Do you have any idea the microbes in sea watter?  Why would they hunt there? I'll tell you because it is $150.00 cheaper! and they make no bones about saying so.  Then when I tell them their hide may slip because of the sea water dredge. They blame the Guide! 
  Ignorance is the lack or knowledge. Stupidity is being to lazy to get it.
 

[Tommy B]

I had a guide bring in a bear head and paws still in, I new this camp did not have a freezer and when I rubbed the ear in front of him and all the hair came off he said what did you do, I told him the head was rotton. Crazy thig he still blames me even though the bear sat out a week in june. There is alot of bears that I see leave this province in the spring most with the head and paws still in because alot of camps don't know how to skin them out. I know the taxidermist south of the border is going to have a problem with these bears by the time they get home but the hunter still wants to take it home to show his buddies or there is a local guy they want to do it.

[cattrax]

Well said, Tenbears.

[Kastaway]

Kulis Productions has added to their dvd library with a new series of field care. The black bear is the first of this series and will be ready to ship next week. It would be a great teaching tool to give to a hunter going on a bear hunt, so he would be able to watch before he goes on a hunt and would understand how to handle the head and feet which are always the problem area. It covers from skinning of the carcase all the way to feet, head, ears and finally salting.  As a special offer to the taxidermist, Kulis will be offering a quantity discount on this dvd so he can give it to potention customers to watch and learn. Both will benefit in the long run.